Imagine us.. Making an impact on the travel industry? Right.. WE deserve it!

Sorry I missed the Freddie Awards in person..MAYBE next year?..... Would have VERY MUCH liked to have been "part of it" with you guys..
Congratulations!!

Mike



[This message has been edited by MIKE MAHONEY (edited 01-28-2000).]

I guess I am missing something also. Who did win?

The website only lists the awards through 1998.

Everyone on this board, FlyerTalk, won. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Bill, using the link above to the Freddies provided by Premex, just scroll down and click on the "click here" right below the live from NY ...12th. That should do it!

Here's the wording we used to explain why FlyerTalk won what we call a "Randy:"

"While just over a year old, no other Web site or community of frequent travelers has had more impact on the industry or individual members of programs than FlyerTalk. The amazing thing about FlyerTalk is that it has evolved on its own with no direct moderator. With over 100,000 posts related to every aspect of frequent traveler programs, it seems the Internet has given the right of comment directly to the frequent traveler and FlyerTalk best represents this."

When we were talking about who should receive a Randy this year, FlyerTalk was one of the first suggestions. Why? Because we were talking about who had the most impact on the industry over the past year. You all know that the industry lurks here. I've also been told by some in the industry that they suspect a lot of counter-intelligence going on. So they are watching and listening very carefully, you can be assured of that. Hopefully, they are listening carefully enough that changes are being made because of what is said and read here.

This board is also watched by the media. We receive many phone calls from reporters and we often tell them to check out this board and to even post a question they'd like answered.

FlyerTalk has also been extremely beneficial to the staff at WebFlyer and InsideFlyer. We've learned a lot about what frequent flyers know and what they are interested in reading about.

Randy probably faces a bit of criticism for recognizing this board and the people who frequent it, and he knows that better than anyone. But I can tell you he wasn't the first one to suggest the board as a recipient.

Didn't mean to make such a long speech...just trying to give everybody a bit of background on how the decision was reached.

By the way, I enjoyed meeting all of you who attended the ceremony in New York. Continue to check out the freddieawards.com site; we'll be adding more content over the next week or so.

[This message has been edited by Pam at Webflyer (edited 01-29-2000).]

Well, I finally found the winners. <g>

Actually, I think the award to this board is well-deserved.

This board is first public web-based board that I have seen that rises to the level of influence exerted by the software and hardware forums of Compuserve in its early days.

In general, Compuserve was the only location available for on-line support until about 1993 or 1994. Most major (and many minor) hardware and software companies maintained a presence there because a significant portion of the members were 'IT' people. Products were openly discussed by some very knowledgeable people. Members talked openly about both good and bad points of the products in the market. And the companies definitely listened. The people who were doing the talking were the people making computer decisions for their own organizations. Those discussions did lead to changes in policies and future products.

As with everything, the on-line world changed. AOL arrived and some companies moved there presence there (easier to control content). Eventually, most moved to only web-based support with just a few continuing on Compuserve (or AOL).

Everyone here should be proud that issues can be discussed in rational atmosphere where a good argument can make a difference.

Well, I think the point has been made and needs to be made again: THIS IS AN AWARD FOR THE FLYERTALKERS!!! The people who take the time to post their frustrations and their satisfaction and their tips and their advice on all things travel.

So we ALL should be proud of this award. We ALL earned it. SO let's just accept it and focus on the celebration: the WORLDTOUR of the FLYERTALK FREDDIE!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Randy: when the copy is made I am happily volunteering to help take it around the world. I have Vegas, London/Heathrow and Dublin coming up.

In case you had not noticed, the Webflyer picture site is up.

Main page with story: http://www.webflyer.com/@livefly/fred12th/

Straight to pictures: http://www.webflyer.com/@livefly/fre.../gallery1.html